It is finally official, DeAndre Yedlin is heading to Tottenham Hotspur in January. The Sounders defender is taking his game to the English Premier League and he could not be happier. His success during 2014 is living proof that turning in a good performance at the World Cup and playing consistently for his club will get you noticed on an international scale.
Yedlin is a great defender that was a surprising addition to the USMNT 2014 FIFA World Cup roster. Aside from Julian Green, Yedlin was another huge surprise that turned out to work well for Jurgen Klinsmann and company. The move to Tottenham happened this past summer, but due to Yedlin not being able to get a work permit so he was loaned out to Seattle for the rest of the 2014 MLS season.
During the 2014 MLS season, Yedlin appeared in and started 25 games for the Sounders. He dished out four assists during the regular season, which doubled his total from 2013.
While at the World Cup, Yedlin appeared in three of the four USMNT games. Albeit, he did not register any big-time stats, he still helped the USMNT attack more effectively down the wings, something the team has struggled with in recent years.
Once the move became public knowledge, Yedlin revealed that Klinsmann wanted him to make the move to Spurs. Klinsmann is the type of national team coach who wants his players to play at the highest level possible.
There were some fierce words between Klinsmann and MLS Commissioner Don Garber a few months back about the league and the relationship with the USMNT. The dust has settled somewhat, but the relationship between Garber and Klinsmann appears to still have some minor issues attached.
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Yedlin spent just two season in MLS and departs with an interesting legacy. Yes, two years is not much time to make a name for oneself in any professional sports league, however, Yedlin managed to break that rule. While in MLS, Yedlin received 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year and MLS All-Star choice in both 2013 and 2014. He was the first Homegrown player to sign for the Sounders after playing for their Seattle FC Academy.
His lightning fast speed instantly made him a well-known name around MLS. His true coming out party happened at the World Cup, once he established he could keep pace with the likes of Eden Hazard, among many others he faced.
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The Sounders fell just short in their quest for MLS Cup glory in 2014. Without Yedlin on the team going into next season, Sigi Schmid has a major hole to fill if he want’s his club to make another deep playoff run.
What do you think DeAndre Yedlin’s MLS legacy is? Will his absence from the Sounders really make a huge difference next season?